Queensland Firebirds
| Queensland Firebirds | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Franchise information | |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Based in | Brisbane, Australia |
| Region | Queensland |
| Main venue |
Brisbane Convention Centre (4,000) Gold Coast Convention Centre (5,269) |
| Main sponsor | Lorna Jane |
| Head coach | Roselee Jencke |
| Asst coach | Jenny Brazel |
| Captain |
Gabi Simpson Former captain = Laura Geitz |
| Website | http://www.firebirds.net.au |
| ANZ Championship | |
| Titles won | 3 |
| Best finish | 1st (2011, 2015, 2016) |
| 2016 finish | Champions |
   Team colours
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Gabi Simpson
The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane that competes in the Suncorp Super Netball league. The team previously competed in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy (CBT), previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested from 1997–2007. After the retirement of the CBT and ANZ Championship, the Firebirds were one of five Australian franchises to transfer to the Super Netball league.
The Firebirds are currently coached by Roselee Jencke, who was appointed in 2010 replacing Vicki Wilson, and are captained by wing defender Gabi Simpson. When the Firebirds were playing in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy the team was based at the Chandler Arena. Home games in the ANZ Championship were usually played at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre; games have also been held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. In the current league Suncorp Super Netball home games are played at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Southbank and Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The team colours are purple, white and orange.
The Queensland Firebirds are one of the founding teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, which they played their first season in 1997. The league ran from 1997–2007. In their first nine years of the league, Queensland finished no higher than sixth place. For the 2006 season, former Firebirds player Vicki Wilson was appointed as heach coach for the team. Her appointment saw a sudden improvement in the team's standing in the league, with the Firebirds finishing 4th during Wilson's inaugural coaching year, and 5th in 2007.
After 2007, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was retired and replaced by a new trans-Tasman netball league, the ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were one of five Australian franchises to join the new league. For the new competition, the Firebirds changed their strip from maroon to purple and orange. They also secured the signing of rising Jamaican shooting star Romelda Aiken. In their first three years competing in the ANZ Championship, the Firebirds finished fifth, narrowly missing out on the finals on each occasion. Wilson was replaced after the 2009 season by Roselee Jencke.
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